Digital health and metabolic platform Eden, known for providing consumers access to GLP-1s (including the first compounded semaglutide gummy), is expanding into in-person experiences with Eden Health Club, a luxury wellness destination set for Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Located at 5990 S. University Blvd., the upcoming club will offer several wellness services all under one roof, including fitness, functional medicine and aesthetic treatments. Members will have access to hormone replacement therapy, GLP-1 treatments, beauty facials, injectables and regenerative therapies, as well as infrared saunas, red light therapy, IV drips and peptide therapies. On the fitness front, Eden Health Club will provide personal training, performance-driven workouts and body composition analysis.

“At Eden, we believe true wellness extends beyond traditional healthcare—it’s about unlocking your full potential,” Eden co-founder Joshua Khan said. “Our new Health Club is designed to seamlessly integrate functional medicine, fitness, and aesthetics, empowering our members with expert-led treatments and therapies to optimize their health and longevity.”

The luxury wellness club currently offers three tiered memberships for founding members, ranging in price and commitment:

• EDEN EMPOWER – $99/Mo (Month-to-Month)
  • 1 Mini Facial (30 min)
  • 2 Fitness Classes
  • 2 Red Light Therapy + Infrared Sauna Sessions
  • 1 B12 Injection
  • 10% Off Aesthetic Retail Products
  • 1 Brain Tap + Compression Leg Therapy Session at Sign-Up

• EDEN REBUILD – $149/Mo (3-Month Commitment)
  • 8 Fitness Classes
  • $20 Drop-In Fitness Classes
  • 50% Off Pre/Post-Workout Injections
  • 2 Red Light Therapy + Infrared Sauna Sessions
  • 15% Off Level 1 Services
  • 10% Off Level 2 Services
  • 1 IV Treatment (Per Commitment)
  • 1 B12 Injection (Per Commitment)
  • 1 InBody Scan (Per Commitment)

• EDEN GENESIS – $349/Mo (12-Month Commitment)
  • 8 Fitness Classes
  • 8 Red Light Therapy + Infrared Sauna Sessions
  • 1 IV Treatment
  • 1 Diamond Glow Facial
  • 15% Off Level 1 + 2 Services
  • 1 PRF Facial Injection (Per Commitment)
  • 10 Units of Tox (Per Commitment)
  • 4 InBody Scans (Per Commitment)

The post Eden Moves Beyond Telehealth With ‘Sanctuary of Wellness’ Club appeared first on Athletech News.

Digital nutritional therapy platform Fay—which connects consumers with insurance-covered Registered Dietitians (RDs)—has raised $50 million in a Series B led by Goldman Sachs, valuing the company at $500 million.

Existing investors General Catalyst and Forerunner also participated, bringing Fay’s total funding to $75 million. The investment will support growth initiatives and new offerings for dietitians and clients, the company said.

“Our AI-driven platform gives dietitians’ superpowers,’ automating burdens like insurance claims, scheduling, and patient follow-ups so they can focus on providing intimate and thoughtful care,” Fay co-founder and CEO Sammy Faycurry said. “By analyzing vast amounts of information, our platform helps dietitians craft more precise, personalized journeys for their clients, including supplement recommendations, hyper-curated shopping carts and lab analyses to drive prevention initiatives for employers and insurers.”

The new funding follows Fay’s $25 million raise last spring. Since its 2022 launch, the client-to-dietitian platform has added more than 2,300 RDs in its network and integrates with several insurance companies, including United Healthcare, Aetna CVS, Blue Cross, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, and Humana. It’s also landed several partnerships with major employers like Amazon, Microsoft and Pepsi, where their employees have access to Fay’s RDs.

Several specialties and modalities are available for clients, depending on their needs: eating disorders, diabetes, perimenopause and menopause, PCOS, pediatrics, sports nutrition, fertility, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, IB, gut health, oncology, weight loss, thyroid health and more, as well as functional health, intuitive eating and GLP-1 users.

Chase Williams, an investor at Goldman Sachs, underscored the importance of nutrition and its widespread impact on Americans.

“Nutrition is a fundamental component of healthcare, and yet it is often overlooked until it is too late, with people putting off behavior change until they get diagnosed with an avoidable chronic condition,” Williams said. “It doesn’t have to be that way, and a major part of U.S. healthcare moving towards value-based care is getting the system as a whole to work in a more proactive and preventative way.”

Better nutrition care will be at the center of the transition, he says.

“We believe Fay is uniquely positioned to support this shift with their AI-driven provider enablement platform for registered dietitians. We are thrilled to lead Fay’s Series B and support Sammy, Mark and the entire Fay team as they help registered dietitians build a thriving independent practice and enable patients to access high-quality, in-network nutrition care.”

Nutrition has become a focal point of the wellness industry, especially as studies continue to reveal the negative impacts of ultra-processed foods. Notably, Gen Z consumers demonstrate a willingness to spend an average of $7,856 per year (the largest of any generation) to achieve health, according to a recent survey by Forbes Health and Talker Research. The findings also indicated that the majority (68%) of respondents are willing to give up fast food, soda (65%) and ultra-processed foods (62%).

The post Fay Raises $50M for Nutrition Counseling Platform appeared first on Athletech News.

Healthcare reform is talked about in the news a lot these days, although it’s often viewed as an unattainable ideal by the media and general public alike. For Truemed, however, it’s already here. 

Founded by health and wellness entrepreneur Justin Mares and reformed former pharma lobbyist Calley Means, Truemed provides a platform that allows consumers to purchase fitness and wellness products including gym memberships, supplements and recovery gear using tax-free Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds.

On a mission to transform Americans’ health by making preventive care more widely available and affordable, Truemed already has partnerships with top fitness and wellness brands including Peloton, CorePower Yoga and Anytime Fitness, to name just a few. 

Mares, who serves as Truemed’s co-founder and CEO, sat down with Athletech News to discuss the rise of HSA/FSA funds in fitness, explain what sets Truemed apart from similar platforms and share his thoughts on what the U.S. government can do to implement meaningful healthcare reform.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News: Can you tell us about your background and why you decided to co-found Truemed? 

Justin Mares: I have a background in founding and scaling health and wellness startups, including Kettle & Fire, Perfect Keto and Surely. I went through my own journey with health and fitness in college, which is when I realized how transformational exercise and nutrition can be for both physical and mental health. The more I learned about the healthcare system, the more I realized the extent to which it’s built around medications and interventions that merely manage illnesses over a long period of time rather than treat them or prevent them from happening in the first place – 97% of medical costs occur after people are already sick.

One of our goals with Truemed was to introduce the idea that fitness, supplements and recovery are effective interventions in the fight against chronic disease, and then streamline the process for qualified customers to use HSA and FSA funds to purchase products and services that prevent or mitigate these conditions. Most people know they can use FSA funds for medical expenses like deductibles, co-pays and prescriptions, but they might be surprised by the broader range of options available. More and more, root-cause interventions like fitness programs, supplements, recovery tools and health technology are being recognized for their power to prevent and manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. 

ATN: Are enough Americans aware that HSA/FSA funds exist and that they can use them to purchase fitness and wellness products? If not, what’s the key to wider awareness?  

JM: I think a lot of people are still a bit overwhelmed by the concept, and don’t realize how simple it can be to use HSA/FSA funds for such a wide range of products and services. Part of this is because, prior to a platform like Truemed, the process was much more arduous for these specific types of purchases. Consumers would have to schedule a doctor’s appointment, describe their health history and goals in detail, ask them to fill out a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), pay a fee, and then wait potentially for weeks for their claim to be approved. 

Our goal is that by integrating all of this directly into the payment flow – it’s as easy as clicking “Pay with HSA/FSA” at checkout – people will be able to empower themselves to use pre-tax savings for products that manage chronic diseases but that may not previously have been recognized by medical institutions as preventative medicine. During my time at Truemed, we’ve enabled nearly 200,000 Americans to purchase root-cause items with HSA/FSA funds, and we’re confident that this movement will only continue to grow as more people catch on and realize the potential of what they can access. 

ATN: Truemed already has partnerships with top fitness and wellness brands like Peloton, CorePower Yoga and others. How have you been able to convince these brands to join the HSA/FSA movement?

JM: We’ve been extremely encouraged by how many incredible, consumer-loved brands have joined our mission and embraced Truemed as a core part of their business. One of the ways we’ve been successful in recruiting additional companies is by word of mouth, as brands see how much new business Truemed drives for them – in some cases, as much as 15-20% of new customers are ordering through Truemed. 

We’re also seeing that brands are not only getting more first-time customers through us but also different segments of the population that tend to be more cost-conscious. This is really heartening for us, as it shows that what we’re trying to do is working when it comes to increasing accessibility for consumers who want these products but otherwise may not have been able to purchase them without an HSA/FSA fund.

ATN: A few other HSA/FSA platforms have cropped up recently. What separates Truemed from its competitors?

JM: In addition to being the biggest HSA/FSA telehealth platform and working with the best merchants, we’re also the ones who essentially carved out this space and made it what it is. Our brands also tend to see the best results as far as conversion rates, average order value (AOV) and other metrics in comparison to our competitors.   

ATN: Do bills such as the PHIT Act, which would amend the IRS code to treat physical activity as preventive healthcare covered by allowable HSA/FSA spending, have a realistic chance of being passed? Or is a platform like Truemed a more realistic long-term solution?

JM: We aren’t sure if (PHIT) will pass, but what we do know is that there are a whole class of root-cause chronic disease interventions that are eligible and work today, they just require a doctor to issue an LMN.

ATN: There’s been a lot of speculation around what President Trump may do in his second term regarding healthcare reform. What would you like to see the U.S. government do to help Americans become healthier? 

JM: Several steps need to be taken in order to bolster the health of the American people on a societal level, all of which link back to embracing preventative care rather than sickcare. Due to the current structure of the healthcare system, it’s a lot more profitable for doctors to treat sick patients rather than address root causes and keep people healthy from the start, so the more we can do to reveal some of these corrupt practices, the more individuals will be able to take the power back into their own hands. 

As far as specific policy shifts, some sweeping changes that I’d love to see in the near future include ridding our food supply of dangerous chemicals, pesticides and dyes, eliminating our dependence on ultra-processed foods, and removing conflicts of interest from major institutions. In regard to this last point, many people might not realize that big pharmaceutical companies influence everything from nutritional guidance and research to mainstream news to the medications doctors choose to prescribe. Until we separate these larger entities from one another, patients will continue to be routed toward pharmaceuticals as the only solution, rather than first exploring the impact of lifestyle interventions.  

ATN: What’s your vision for the future of Truemed over the next few years? Could the company expand into other areas besides HSA/FSA payments? 

JM: One of our main goals is to continue partnering with great brands that are passionate about making preventative care more accessible for people trying to mitigate chronic health conditions. It’s been great seeing how many companies have already embraced what we’re trying to do over the past year, and we’re confident that we’ll have many more in the months to come, especially following the announcements of some industry leaders like Peloton, CorePower Yoga and Bioniq.

Moving forward, we hope to continue building on categories that are already represented and expand into others, namely health food options, as well as provide personalized guidance on certain partner brands of ours that could be paired together for optimal impact. 

The post CEO Corner: Truemed’s Justin Mares on HSA/FSA Funds in Fitness appeared first on Athletech News.

A study published in “Obesity Science & Practice” has indicated that Found, a specialized weight care telehealth platform, has demonstrated that clinically significant weight loss can be achieved through virtual obesity care. The study, which analyzed data from over 66,000 members, indicates that telehealth programs combining medication and lifestyle interventions may drive long-term weight loss outcomes.

The study is the largest of its kind for a telehealth weight care platform and assessed weight loss outcomes for Found members over 12 months. Found, which was created in 2019, provides medications, virtual clinical care, and a personalized plan for members to improve their weight loss outcomes.

“What’s remarkable about this analysis isn’t just its unprecedented scale for a telehealth weight care platform,” said Dr. Rekha Kumar, Found’s Chief Medical Officer. “Examining outcomes from over 66,000 patients tells us something profound about the future of obesity care. These results demonstrate that comprehensive virtual care can deliver consistent, clinically meaningful outcomes while dramatically expanding access to evidence-based treatment. By gathering real-world evidence at this scale, we’re showing how telehealth can democratize access to personalized, effective weight care.”

In the study, over half the participants achieved weight loss of 5% or more. After 12 months, the participants achieved a weight loss of nearly 10%. Average weight loss also increased from 3% at six months to 8% at 12 months. The study also demonstrated that participants who engaged with the Found app at least once a week lost an average of 10% of their body weight. More consistent users achieved a 12% weight loss. The study also found that long-term weight maintenance resulted, with 83% maintaining their weight loss after a year. GLP-1 receptors only accounted for 2.9% of prescriptions during the study, while 97.1% of prescriptions were for non-GLP-1 medications. GLP-1 users saw an average weight loss of 13.9% in 12 months, while non-GLP-1 users lost 8%.

The researchers also highlighted the strength of Found’s program, noting that it was “one that has implemented high-quality safety protocols, uses dose escalation for medications, and places a high standard on clinical quality review processes.” Overall, they stated that virtual solutions with Found-affiliated clinicians trained in obesity medicine can be successfully delivered for a large number of members. While there still remains a gap in research on obesity medications, particularly with telehealth, Found’s study indicates that such programs can deliver effective long-term results without geographic limitations.

The post Found Study Highlights the Effectiveness of Telehealth In Clinical Significant Weight Loss appeared first on Athletech News.

F45 Training is deepening its partnership with telehealth provider Dr. B to combine GLP-1 medications with the boutique fitness franchisor’s on-demand fitness and nutrition tools.

Starting at $249 per month, members of the program will receive a letter of medical necessity to access Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA) funds, monthly consultations with a licensed medical provider, unlimited check-ins, compounded GLP-1 medications delivered to their door, access to F45’s app, discounts for upgrading to an F45 in-studio membership and annual blood work at Quest Diagnostics.

“F45 Training is dedicated to empowering all people to achieve sustainable health and longevity,” F45 CEO Tom Dowd said. “While GLP-1 medication is not suitable for everyone, it can be a valuable tool for some individuals on their weight loss journey. This partnership ensures access to resistance training and nutrition programs essential for successful outcomes.”

Dowd pointed out that without such tools in place, up to 50% of weight loss during GLP-1 treatment can come from valuable muscle rather than fat. 

“Our program is designed to help participants retain muscle, maximize fat loss and support bone health,” he added.

The new offering expands on F45 and Dr. B’s initial partnership launched last March, which allows current F45 members with HSA or FSA accounts to consult the telehealth platform to determine eligibility for a letter of medical necessity for reimbursement.

The platform has also teamed with Xplor, BODi and Orangetheory Fitness to make it easier for fitness consumers to use their HSA and FSA funds.

“GLP-1 medications empower many people to lose weight and reduce their cardio-metabolic risk factors, and through our provider-led program, we make sure patients have all the materials and support they need to take their treatment safely and confidently at home,” Dr. B founder and CEO Cyrus Massoumi said. “But we believe medication is only part of the equation. Promoting behaviors that lead to sustainable health and longevity is our goal. We’re thrilled that this program offers patients everything they need to get there.”

Along with GLP-1s, F45 has fully embraced wellness and recovery, as seen with its recent partnership with nutrition retailer GNC and the addition of cold plunges, infrared saunas and Hyperice compression/percussive therapy at participating studios.

Also in development is the potential announcement of a new company name that aligns with F45’s wellness-focused direction, which Dowd teased during ATN’s DISRUPT 2024 video series.

Weight Loss Meds: Industry Disrupting to Industry-Leading?

When the blockbuster weight loss drugs first gained attention, their potential impact on gyms, health clubs and boutique fitness studios was a bit uncertain. Now, in early 2025, the results are becoming clear, as we’re already beginning to see a crossover as leading brands strive to become the ultimate one-stop shop for a healthier lifestyle. One new report from investment banking firm Harrison Co. found the total addressable market for U.S. fitness clubs (including gyms and boutique studios) is expected to increase by $6.8 billion as a result of increased GLP-1 use.

“I think it’s one of the biggest opportunities to come along for the industry in a long time,” Paul Byrne, a partner in Harrison Co.’s Fitness & VMS practice, told Athletech News last fall. 

Some were ahead of the curve—global boutique fitness franchisor Xponential Fitness acquired Lindora, a chain of metabolic health clinics offering weight-loss medications and more, while Life Time launched Miora, a longevity clinic that includes GLP-1s among its many offerings.

Fitness equipment leader Echelon is also on board with weight loss medications, having just launched ActiveMD, a wellness division providing weight loss medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Rybelsus to qualified individuals. Current Echelon members receive exclusive savings on the medication, while new customers earn a free one-year FitPass membership with their first prescription, which unlocks unlimited access to thousands of live and on-demand workouts.

The post F45 Training Expands Wellness Focus with GLP-1 Medications appeared first on Athletech News.

Culina Health has raised $7.9 million in a Series A funding round following a 117% year-over-year growth.

Co-founded in 2020 by registered dietitians Vanessa Rissetto and Tamar Samuels, the latest round brings the digital nutrition platform’s total funding to $20 million.

The round was led by Healthworx, which previously backed Culina Health in 2022. Other participants included Rethink Impact, Collab Capital, Collide Capital, Vamos Ventures, Tensility Venture Partners, Cake Ventures and GW Ventures.

The solution-focused platform – which partners with major insurers and Medicare – connects patients and healthcare providers to a network of registered dietitians who provide personalized virtual nutrition care for individuals seeking weight loss guidance, chronic disease prevention and management and healthy eating and wellness support. 

Other specialities include eating disorders, pediatric and family nutrition, cancer care nutrition, pregnancy and post-partum nutrition and exercise and sports nutrition. 

“Research shows 90% of Americans would benefit from seeing a dietitian, yet only .02% of the population has done so,” Rissetto said. “It’s clear that nutrition is a vital function of long-term health, and registered dietitians should be empowered to be at the forefront of providing this care.”

The platform has more than 1,000 referring providers and has assisted more than 10,000 patients to date using its “Culina Health Method,” a system that it says integrates evidence-based clinical nutrition protocols and culturally-affirming care.

“With the help of our investors and health plan partners, we are one step closer to our shared mission of making world-class nutrition care available to everyone and putting registered dietitians back in the driver’s seat of ‘Food as Medicine’ interventions,” Rissetto continued.

Culina Health will use the capital to expand its offerings in 2025 to better support dietitians and patients, implement new AI platforms to enhance care efficiency and enhance its leadership team, Athletech News has learned.

“Over the past few years, Culina has established a tried-and-true approach to clinical nutrition care,” Rissetto tells ATN. “We plan to double down on our mission to make that accessible for everyone by partnering with more providers and payers.”

In the meantime, those lacking insurance coverage have the option to sign up for Culina Health’s membership program. Three plans are available, beginning at $99 per month. 

Positioned at a time when demand for weight-loss medications is surging, Culina Health could play a pivotal role—particularly as GLP-1 users increasingly require nutrition support.

“As a clinically-led company, we believe it is important to take a medical approach to America’s obesity and diabetes crisis, and when they’re medically indicated, we value medications like GLP-1s as an essential tool in the metabolic health toolbox,” Rissetto says. “In the era of weight loss medication, it’s increasingly important to recognize the surrounding care needed to improve overall health, including nutrition counseling, movement, and behavioral health counseling.”

The platform is hosting two free webinars scheduled for next month – one on gut health and another on managing blood sugar.

The post Culina Health Raises $7.9M for Digital Nutrition Platform appeared first on Athletech News.

A few years ago, Anar Isman had an epiphany: he wanted to help people live past 100.  

In 2020, Isman left behind a successful but unfulfilling career in investment management to co-found AgelessRx, a telemedicine platform whose mission is to help people slow down the physical process of aging by prescribing doctor-approved drugs like Metformin, Rapamycin and GLP-1s, among others. 

Isman’s vision for AgelessRx extends beyond profit and loss: his goal is to help grow the field of longevity science into a mainstream force for good, helping change people’s lives – and lifespans – in the process. 

“To me, longevity and anti-aging, it’s not an industry, it’s not a sector. It’s a movement,” Isman says. 

Isman sat down with Athletech News to discuss his decision to create AgelessRx, his thoughts on the field of longevity and anti-aging, and why he believes we’re not too far off from a world where people live far past 100.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News: Can you tell us about your background and why you decided to create AgelessRx?

Anar Isman: I spent 15 years in various prominent investment funds and then, sometime in my early 30s, I realized I wanted to build something that would change the world. Having done a lot of soul-searching, I couldn’t think of anything more important than slowing down aging and maybe eventually even reversing it. By aging, I mean the accumulation of age-related damage that comes with the passage of time. So we started thinking about how we could make the biggest impact on slowing down aging. The answer was a direct-to-consumer platform. 

AgelessRx is a telemedicine company focused on longevity. Generally, the goal is to give people access to products that can have a potentially positive impact on their lifespan and their health span, products that help them optimize their health, delay the onset of certain age-related conditions, and screen for certain things sooner, like cancer, for example. Right now, everything we deal with requires a prescription. 

ATN: It can be daunting for the average consumer to choose the right anti-aging drugs or supplements among a sea of options. How does AgelessRx help simplify this process?

AI: We put a lot of work into that, and we’ve come up with a very sophisticated assessment. It has around 50 questions and it gives you scores across multiple categories. It’s on our website, and once you do it, it will tell you based on your answers to questions on diet, lifestyle, exercise, family history, sleep patterns, etc., the things that could benefit you. 

We also offer blood tests – you can order a blood test (through the AgelessRx website) or you can upload your own bloodwork. 

ATN: How important is blood test data in prescribing personalized longevity products?

AI: Right now, generally, to be very precise with recommendations, you probably need some kind of blood work. But blood work comes with a lot of obstacles, which result in people not actually doing it. I envision a future where we can get a similar level of insight from the sensory data (in wearables), whether it’s your Apple Watch, Whoop or CGM sensor. That will allow us to personalize supplements or even interventions for you. That’s probably a few years away. 

ATN: “Longevity” has become a buzzword in the wellness community. Has the longevity movement reached a critical mass of Americans yet? 

AI: The longevity movement is definitely more prominent than it was five years ago, and people are much more open to telemedicine after the pandemic. But it’s still very niche. In terms of how many people are knowledgeable and interested in this, it’s still probably in the 2- 3% range across all American adults. So it’s moving in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. 

ATN: What’s the key to getting more Americans on board with the longevity movement? 

AI: Several things, I think. Do you have a pet? I ask because whenever I talk to people about longevity and living longer, most of them say, “Oh, we shouldn’t be doing that, it’s unnatural,” or whatever other reasons they come up with. But when I say, “Would you like your dog to live longer?” Everyone says, “Yes, sign me up.” 

It’s actually much easier to prove that something is working to slow down aging in dogs – there was a first clinical trial approved specifically for longevity in dogs earlier this year. I’m really optimistic that over the next three to five years, we might have an intervention that you can just give to your dog to live longer without the dog having any disease. I’m hoping that once the 70 million American households that have dogs see that, they’ll say, “Oh, I can give a pill to my dog just to live longer? Why not to my Grandma? Why not to my parents?” I think that might function as an eye-opening event. 

Another accelerated model for aging is female fertility, the female reproductive window, where women’s ovaries and other organs technically age faster than the rest of their organs. If we’re able to slow down the aging of ovaries, for example, I think we can apply similar methods to slow down the aging of other organs.

One of the objections (to longevity science) is that people just don’t believe it’s possible to do anything to slow down aging. It feels kind of inevitable. So if we have something over the next five years that is effective, I think people will change their minds fairly quickly.

ATN: Right now, what does the typical AgelessRx customer look like?

AI: Our average age is probably around 50. But I define our persona differently than just age, it’s more people who want to be their own health advocates, people who come to realize that their primary care physician cares about them but really is very busy treating people who are sick. A lot of doctors don’t have time to figure out what’s the best thing they can do to help you stay healthy. 

Our audience is also made up of people who are very high performers in demanding jobs who are saying, “I need to stay on top of my game, I can’t afford to be crashing at 4 or 5pm.” Those people benefit from things like NAD or B12 injections to give them that additional boost of energy.

ATN: What role should drugs and supplements play in people’s overall quest to live longer and healthier? 

AI: Diet, sleep and exercise are the most important things you can do. Unfortunately, however, even if you have the most optimal of those three, that’s not going to get you to 120 years old or even 100. What we’re talking about is taking it to the next level, augmenting whatever you can get from a healthy lifestyle so you can benefit from a more radical lifespan and healthspan extension. 

I’m not a biologist, but talking to a lot of biologists and physicists, there isn’t really anything from the scientific perspective that says we have to die or become decrepit by age 90 or 100. If we’re able to slow down the accumulation of age-related damage, we could live well in our hundreds and maybe even even longer. 

ATN: What’s your vision for the future of AgelessRx? 

AI: Today, when I talk to people about slowing down aging, nine out of 10 are telling me, “I shouldn’t be doing it.” I envision a world in five to 10 years where that’s going to completely flip on its head, where nine out of 10 people are going to be saying, ‘You don’t want to slow down aging? What’s wrong with you?’ In that world, I’d love for AgelessRx to be the go-to, trusted partner on people’s longevity journey. 

The post CEO Corner: AgelessRx’s Anar Isman on the Future of Longevity Science appeared first on Athletech News.

Hims & Hers Health is finally tossing its hat into the GLP-1 weight loss medication ring — at a discounted rate. The fast-growing telehealth platform will now provide access to compounded GLP-1s for eligible consumers, news that caused the company’s shares to surge.

Nestle is also looking to capitalize on the medically assisted weight loss craze: the food giant is releasing a frozen food line designed to help GLP-1-takers preserve their lean muscle mass with protein-packed meals.

Anti-obesity drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have become household names over the last year and have routinely experienced shortages due to surging demand — much to the dismay of consumers eager to get their hands on the high-priced medications. 

Hims & Hers has teamed up with a U.S. drug manufacturer to provide generic medications with the same active ingredients as the Ozempic and Wegovy, circumventing drug shortages and ensuring a lower-than-average price point. The GLP-1 injections are fulfilled and shipped from Hims & Hers-affiliated pharmacies. 

In a blog posted on the Hims & Hers website, the company acknowledged it initially prioritized access to “non-GLP-1 treatments” but notes that it’s become clear that GLP-1 drugs will remain in shortage and that this is placing an “immense strain” on Americans struggling with obesity.

The weight loss medication costs start at $79 per month for oral medication kits and $199 a month for compounded GLP-1 injections, and they include unlimited medical consultations with a licensed provider. 

“The core of our business is to offer a truly personalized experience that customers can trust and rely on,” Hims & Hers CEO and co-founder Andrew Dudum said. “We’ve leveraged our size and scale to secure access to one of the highest-quality supplies of compounded GLP-1 injections available today. We’re passing that access and value along to our customers, who deserve the highest standard of clinical safety and efficacy to meet their goals, and we’re doing it in a safe, affordable way that others can’t deliver.”

The health and wellness platform says it will make branded options available once a consistent supply is available through the pharmacies’ wholesaler, bringing new options beyond its oral medication kits and compounded weight loss injectable medications. 

The telehealth company, which was founded in 2017 and became a unicorn two years later, recently announced that it’s increasing its outlook for 2024, expecting $1.2-1.23 billion in revenue and $120-135 million in Adjusted EBITDA.

Big-Name Brands Embrace Medical Weight Loss

The Vitamin Shoppe is also pushing into the weight loss drug space with its debut of Whole Health Rx, a telehealth service that will offer access to Ozempic, Mounjaro and compounded versions — similar to that of telehealth provider Ro. 

The booming anti-obesity drug market — which has the potential to grow to $100 billion by 2030 — is also impacting the food and beverage industry, from prebiotic superfood brands to high-fiber powders. 

Nestle recently announced a new line of “GLP-1 companion foods” dubbed Vital Pursuit. The frozen food products (which include bowls with whole grains or protein pasta, sandwich melts and pizzas) are portion-controlled and packed with protein, fiber and essential nutrients.

“As the use of medications to support weight loss continues to rise, we see an opportunity to serve those consumers,” Nestle North America CEO Steve Presley said. “Vital Pursuit provides accessible, great-tasting food options that support the needs of consumers in this emerging category.”

Nestlé’s GLP-1-supporting food line will be available later this year.

The post Hims & Hers, Nestle Enter the GLP-1 Race appeared first on Athletech News.

The Vitamin Shoppe is launching a telehealth service, Whole Health Rx, that connects consumers with licensed healthcare providers that offer access to nutritional supplements and GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, as well as compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound.

The move positions Whole Health Rx to compete with other similar platforms, such as Noom Med, Henry Meds, Eden and Sequence. While the new platform will initially focus on weight management, Whole Health Rx plans to expand into other health verticals.

“Whole Health Rx by The Vitamin Shoppe is a meaningful evolution in our company’s mission to consistently and comprehensively support the health needs of our customers,” The Vitamin Shoppe’s CEO Lee Wright, said. “As a pioneer in the wellness space since 1977, The Vitamin Shoppe is uniquely positioned to offer a truly holistic approach to weight loss that unites proven pharmaceutical interventions with our unmatched expertise in nutrition support and whole-body health.”

Wright was appointed as CEO last year after The Vitamin Shoppe’s parent company, Franchise Group, announced its intentions to go private through a $2.6 billion management buyout. 

Whole Health Rx consumers begin with an online questionnaire regarding their medical history and health goals. If approved for a prescription, orders will be filled through Whole Health Rx’s pharmacy partners and delivered in the mail. Patients also have access to online resources through the platform to support their decision-making in their health journey.

Supplements geared towards weight loss support (such as protein, multivitamins, probiotics and fiber) will also be available for Whole Health Rx users, as well as in-store and online at The Vitamin Shoppe. 

“Data shows that a significant percentage of the population is not meeting the daily requirements for key nutrients, such as vitamins C, D, and magnesium,” said Brian Tanzer, director of scientific and regulatory affairs at The Vitamin Shoppe. “This problem will be further exacerbated by the use of GLP-1 medications, which decrease overall food intake. Whole Health Rx is a multidimensional service that can help ensure individuals have the proper nutrition information and products to manage weight loss in a healthy and effective manner.”

Monthly medication subscriptions start at $219 with introductory pricing ($269 at regular price), with no insurance required.

Brands & Retailers Make Wellness Play 

Wellness products, particularly those in the supplement, vitamin and functional food and beverages space, have been a key focus of retailers in the last year — and for good reason.

Consumers are on board with vitamins and supplements; they were the second-most-popular consumer packaged goods category purchased during Amazon’s October Prime Day in both 2023 and 2022. 

Target deemed 2024 the year of health, rolling out over 1,000 wellness products on its shelves, including many exclusive to the retail brand. 

It’s apparent that brands are targeting Gen Z, keenly aware that young people are willing to cut back on other luxuries to have more money to spend on wellness products.

Ghost, a supplement and sports nutrition brand, presents colorful, youth-centric packaging with flavors geared towards young consumers — such as Chips Ahoy!, Oreo, Nutter Butter and Sour Patch Kids. The company also sells a product marketed to gamers, with nootropics and other ingredients it says are geared for focus and energy.  

Weight-Loss Foods & Supplements Emerge

There is also an emerging market for non-injectable weight loss options and products intended to support those who have transitioned off of Ozempic and other semaglutide products.

GNC introduced Total Lean GlucaTrim, an over-the-counter supplement that it says supports healthy blood sugar and insulin levels. The caffeine-free product includes Berberine, a compound extracted from various plants and dubbed ‘Nature’s Ozempic.’ 

Supergut, a prebiotic superfood brand, recently partnered with GNC, including its popular Gut Health GLP-1 Booster – a high-fiber prebiotic mix. The company, which launched in 2022, aims to naturally trigger the release of the GLP-1 hormone with fiber, sending a signal to the brain to slow digestion and elicit a feeling of fullness.

The post Can The Vitamin Shoppe Compete With Pure Telehealth Platforms? appeared first on Athletech News.

Fay, a disruptive new client-to-dietitian networking tool, will have deeper pockets as it aims to tackle the nation’s health crisis by connecting Americans with affordable, personalized nutrition counseling services.

The digital platform announced a $20 million Series A funding round led by Forerunner Ventures with participation from General Catalyst and 1984. That comes after Fay previously raised $5M in a seed round led by General Catalyst, bringing its total to $25 million.

While Fay also helps dietitians build private practices with AI-powered tools, the company is most known for its ability to connect Americans with registered dietitians (RDs) covered by their health insurance for personalized nutrition therapy.

Dietitians on the Fay platform are available for little to no cost to Americans through their health insurance. Most plans don’t require a certain diagnosis or physician referral for nutrition counseling, according to Fay.

“For too long, access to diet and nutrition care has been gate-kept by prohibitively high costs and inability to access RDs who accept insurance,” said Fay co-founder and CEO Sammy Faycurry. “Fay was born from the belief that everyone deserves access to expert care – allowing the majority of Americans to have easy and convenient access to life-changing nutrition counseling.”

Founded by Faycurry and Mark Stefanski, Fay boasts the nation’s largest and fastest-growing network of RDs, according to the platform. With the new capital, the company plans to continue that expansion and enrich its current offerings by integrating food service delivery platforms to address food insecurity, expanding insurance coverage and enhancing partnerships with existing employer plans.

With over half of U.S. adults struggling with diet-related chronic conditions according to the CDC, Fay is gearing up to help Americans at a time when many need it. The widespread use of GLP-1 drugs has likely added to the demand for RDs as people seek nutrition solutions to sustain their weight loss.

“So many people have broken relationships with food, which can often result in expensive health complications, and nutrition is often a critical component of chronic care management and recovery,” said Holly Maloney, managing director at General Catalyst and a Fay board member. “Fay has grown rapidly to build a strong value proposition for both dietitians and patients, and we’re excited to continue to support the team as they scale their mission to help people better eat and live longer.”

Fay currently has over 1,000 providers on its platform and is projected to exceed 2,000 by 2025. The platform has partnerships with major health insurance providers including United Healthcare, Aetna CVS, Blue Cross, Anthem, Cigna, Optum, and Humana, with others that can’t yet be disclosed.

Registered dietitians on Fay cover more than 30 specialties, including eating disorders, diabetes, kidney disease, weight management, gut health, general preventative care.

Fay isn’t alone though in addressing America’s health crisis through nutrition counseling. Nourish, a telenutrition platform that partners with health insurers to deliver in-network dietitian services at no cost, reeled in $35 million in a Series A funding round earlier this spring. Ahara Nutrition, a subscription-based personalized nutrition and supplement solution, pulled in $10.25 million in funding last summer.

The post Fay Raises $25M for Healthcare-Covered Dietitian Service appeared first on Athletech News.

Dr. Rachel Goldman is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral medicine. After being exposed to the treatment of obesity, she became interested in the patient population. Dr. Rachel previously served as the senior psychologist at Bellevue Center for Obesity and Weight Management at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. Today, she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and an advisor to Ro, a telehealth company that offers GLP-1 weight loss drugs.

Dr. Rachel spoke with Athletech News about weight loss drugs from a behavioral medicine perspective, and how the fitness and wellness industry can best support people taking GLP-1s.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News: Why did you join Ro as a medical advisor? 

Dr. Rachel Goldman: I loved the opportunity and jumped on it for many reasons. I’ve been very involved in the academic work around the treatment of obesity, and I think it’s really important that there are behavioral health providers sharing information about that. People don’t understand obesity. It’s a multi-factorial, complex chronic disease. There are not a lot of behavioral health providers who specialize in this area. The more people we can get advising companies on mental health and how the brain works the better we can serve our patients and provide compassionate empathetic care.

ATN: What are some of the biggest misconceptions around the confluence of mental and physical health related to obesity? 

RG: Obesity is a disease. We in the medical field know that and treat it as a disease. But unfortunately, the general public still doesn’t see it that way, and they label people as being lazy or lacking willpower or discipline.

GLP-1s are allowing individuals who have the disease of obesity to be on a level playing field. They have this extra tool that is helping them get to a place where they’re more in that category of individuals who, if they’re mindful about what they’re eating and exercising a little more, they will likely lose weight. It’s literally giving people hope who felt like they lost hope. Some people saw an option like bariatric surgery as a last resort but GLP-1s are now giving people an additional option. We are also seeing that people after bariatric surgery have weight (gain) recurrence because obesity is a chronic disease. 

ATN: How does fitness play into the weight-loss-drug space? 

RG: I’ll share with you what I’ve seen with bariatric surgery because that’s been around longer than the GLP-1s, and I’ve worked very closely with that patient population. What we typically say is that food matters, but exercise brings it to another level. The food you put in your mouth helps with weight loss. Exercise will help with weight maintenance. All of these treatments that are available must be coupled with lifestyle changes.

Many people initially hate exercise, particularly individuals who have struggled with it in the past. Maybe it’s hard. Maybe it’s causing pain. Maybe they can’t walk or they get out of breath. They have this association with exercise that it’s really difficult. This is why I also don’t like to use the term “exercise.” I like to use the term “movement” or “physical activity” because “exercise” is overwhelming for a lot of my patients. We’re really just talking about moving your body a little bit more: being more active and less sedentary.

I also see exercise and physical activity being a huge tool for mental health. I have clients who struggle with their weight but don’t fall under the category of having the disease of obesity. I joke that if I could give a prescription apart from behavioral prescriptions, it would be to exercise and to find an activity that they love. I have clients for whom their anxiety is much worse and they feel so much more overwhelmed on the days that they’re not being active or didn’t go to a workout class. If we’re able to change our behaviors by moving a little bit more it will also impact our thoughts. 

ATN: How do you recommend patients manage the lifestyle and social shifts that come with drastic weight loss from GLP-1s?

RG: Once people get to a dosage that works for them, the weight loss is going to be faster than it would if they were to do it on their own. People aren’t really prepared for that. I often say any change can be overwhelming because there are unknowns, which is scary. It’s ideal to have a team of providers and a team of support. This includes friends and family and a behavioral health provider to discuss potential changes with them. It’s important to discuss all of those expectations. Some people really struggle not being able to go out and be as social because they’re having difficulty figuring out what they can eat or they have reflux. Some also get tired from the medications or have certain other side effects.

Thinking about all of this in advance and having a plan in place is really important. Relationships may also change, so it’s good to talk about friends, co-workers or even partners. I just had this conversation with a friend who started GLP-1s. I said, “What if people notice you’ve lost weight? What will you do?” Let’s prepare a few sample scripts. 

ATN: What should the fitness and wellness industry do to cater to new consumers who take GLP-1s?

RG: We should be getting rid of the messaging around, “Burn your calories before you eat them,” or, “Now you deserve that pumpkin pie because you finished a workout class.” All of those are harmful messages and as people, we don’t have notes on our forehead saying what we’re struggling with. So just assuming that people have different struggles and are in different stages and not assuming everybody is capable of doing the same thing is really important.

For personal trainers, open-ended questions are really great to get more information from people. Just being mindful and compassionate. 

The post Dr. Rachel Goldman on the Complex World of Weight Loss Drugs appeared first on Athletech News.

Personal training franchise Alloy Personal Training has announced a new partnership with telehealth platform Marek Health to offer an integrated wellness package that combines fitness training and telehealth services. This collaboration aims to provide a comprehensive approach to health and fitness, aligning with Alloy’s mission to deliver holistic wellness solutions.

Rick Mayo, CEO and founder of Alloy, developed his concept in 1992 when he opened Alloy Personal Training Center in the Atlanta area. After growing the brand to thousands of locations via licensing, Mayo launched Alloy Personal Training as a brick-and-mortar franchise in 2019. Currently, there are 205 locations sold and 35 locations open.

“We have 105 locations currently in process, meaning they are somewhere between signing and opening, Mayo says. “Our budget for next year is another 200 locations sold and 140 open by the end of 2024.”

The franchise model targets clients ages 50 and up, a demographic traditionally underserved in the fitness industry. This strategic move comes at a time when most fitness programs predominantly focus on younger demographics.

In response to the changing landscape of fitness preferences, particularly post-pandemic, Alloy has emphasized creating a safer and more socially conducive workout environment. This focus on smaller, controlled settings for group training is in direct response to the growing demand for secure, in-person fitness options.

“Alloy has consistently set the pace in the fitness industry,” Mayo says. “We’re diving deeper into holistic wellness. This is more than fitness; it’s about empowering individuals to take complete charge of their health and thrive in every aspect of their lives.”

Comprehensive Wellness Plans

The partnership with Marek Health introduces the “Optimization Package,” which combines Alloy’s personalized training with Marek Health’s telehealth services. The package includes a comprehensive blood panel, a 45-minute lab review session, a medical provider consultation, and a structured four-step process for enhanced care. This approach is designed to offer clients precise insights into their health, allowing for targeted adjustments and personalized treatment plans.

“Age perception has shifted dramatically, transforming what was once considered ‘twilight years’ into a vibrant stage of life, full of potential,” Mayo says.

“We embrace this change, offering strategies for staying young and vital. Partnering with Marek Health enhances this vision, as their detailed health analyses and tailored treatments represent the future of personalized care,” he adds. “We are excited to offer our clients a holistic, proactive path to optimal wellness.”

Steven Granzella, marketing director at Marek Health, echoed this sentiment. 

“This partnership symbolizes a fusion of cutting-edge health technology and personalized fitness, bringing clients a new level of comprehensive wellness,” Granzella said.

Alloy’s Approach Drives Growth

One of Alloy’s differentiators is its coach-to-client ratio. Where the industry leans towards larger classes, Alloy maintains a ratio of one coach for every six clients, ensuring individual attention and effective training. 

Alloy’s pricing is structured to offer value. The group sessions provide the benefits of personal training at a more affordable price point, especially appealing to the target demographic who seek value for their investment.

Client retention is a cornerstone of Alloy’s business model, and it reports an average client stay of 36 months, translating to high lifetime customer value. The company offers a 30-1 franchisee-to-business coach ratio, a level of support the company says is instrumental in nurturing successful franchise operations.

The post Alloy Personal Training Embraces Telehealth To Grow Franchise Biz appeared first on Athletech News.

Hims & Hers is joining the weight loss sector by the end of the year, but instead of rushing to prescribe Ozempic and Wegovy, the telehealth company will take a conservative approach, relying instead on a range of generic medications, nutritional benefits and behavioral health from a mobile app.

In an interview with Fox Business, Hims & Hers co-founder and CEO Andrew Dudum revealed that the new weight loss platform will roll out just in time for consumers to kickstart their health and wellness journeys in January 2024.

As for defining “generic medications,” Dudum told Fox Business that there’s a wide range of medications that have been around for nearly two decades, in contrast to the new weight loss medications that have hit the market.

“If you go to those really fancy clinics out in Beverly Hills or New York, you’ll be able to find doctors who know how to use them and know how to find the underlying issues that you as an individual might be facing, and that might be why it’s causing weight gain. So our aim is to use these medicines that have been around for a long time and help you get access to them at affordable prices and hopefully get great outcomes,” he explained.

As for taking it slow, as opposed to other companies that have embraced GLP-1s, Dudum says Hims & Hers is trying to be “respectful” of the consumer.

“The  GLP-1s that everybody is really excited about — they should be excited about them,” he said. “These have 15-20% weight loss for an individual, but the reality is they are very new. The studies have been around for nine months or 12 months… We hold trust and safety in the highest regard, and we want to make sure whatever we offer on the platform is going to be reliable, it’s going to be affordable, it’s going to be safe.”

Dudum added that the reported side effects of GLP-1s are concerning to some consumers and he pointed to supply chain issues as well. Still, the Hims & Hers CEO doesn’t appear to be fully ruling out the popular weight loss medications — and likely for good reason. Some analysts suggest that the weight loss drug market may be worth $100 billion by 2030, fueled in large part by drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

“We need to figure out those things and once we (do), Hims & Hers will have a big range of those products,” Dudum said of GLP-1s.

In addition to the weight management plans, the telehealth company reported an impressive Q2, with revenue of $207.9 million, up 83% from the prior-year period. Hims & Hers grew its subscriber base to 1.3 million, up 74% year-over-year in the quarter.

The post Hims Enters Weight Loss Market, but CEO Not Sold on Ozempic appeared first on Athletech News.

Health and wellness company GNC is rewarding those most loyal to its brand with GNC Health, a free supplemental healthcare service.

The updated loyalty platform is available exclusively to GNC PRO Access members and offers free telehealth appointments and over 100 free prescriptions without requiring a co-payment. 

The GNC PRO Access membership, $39.99 a year, provides access to licensed medical professionals while reducing wait times for urgent care and personal health appointments. Members also receive 10% cash back rewards on every purchase, one free GNC bar or drink with a purchase every month and free expedited shipping. 

“As a trusted brand in the health and wellness space, we are thrilled to expand our efforts in helping our customers Live Well by offering free healthcare services to give them the care they need,” said Allison Bentley, senior director of strategic initiatives at GNC. “We recognize the benefits of free supplemental healthcare services through GNC Health will add significant value to our loyalty members who are seeking more convenient access to healthcare offerings that help them Live Well.”

GNC says it enhanced its loyalty program based on consumer feedback with an incentivized experience so consumers have a “one-stop-shop” for their healthcare and wellness needs.

“We’re always looking for ways to create an easy and more rewarding shopping experience for our customers,” said Jenna O’Connor, senior director of loyalty marketing at GNC. “We took a consumer-first approach, evaluated the benefits our customers use most and leveled up our program from there to now include streamlined benefits and more value.”

GNC’s push into healthcare is one of many in recent months.

Albertsons, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S., also debuted a digital platform earlier this year designed to reward consumers and encourage them to make healthy choices. 

Amazon also acquired One Medical this year for $3.9 billion to provide 24/7 digital health and virtual care services for $199 a year. 

In May, CVS Health gained a foothold in the healthcare services sector, completing its $10.6 billion acquisition of Oak Street Health shortly following its purchase of Signify Health in a $8 billion deal to make a mark in home-based healthcare. Oak Street Health, a Chicago-based medical group, expects to have over 300 centers by 2026.

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Jenny Craig, the famed weight loss and nutrition company that folded this past May, is getting a second chance to hit it big in the wellness industry after being acquired by Wellful Inc.

As a direct-to-consumer and omnichannel health and wellness company, Wellful Inc. says Jenny Craig is slated to make a comeback this fall with a DTC delivery model with tasty, nutritious food and personalized coaching. 

While terms of the deal were not disclosed, numerous reports reveal that court documents from the recent acquisition show Jenny Craig’s intellectual property priced at up to $10 million.

Wellful also owns Nutrisystem but confirms it will manage Jenny Craig separately as an independent brand. In addition to Nutrisystem, Wellful’s vast portfolio also includes wellness brands such as Peptiva, Instaflex, Nugenix, Super Beta Prostate and Dr. Sinatra.

Just three months ago, Jenny Craig emailed employees that the weight loss brand would lay off all employees before officially announcing that it would go out of business. By May 5, Jenny Craig filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. 

Brandon Adcock, CEO of Wellful, commented that more than ever before, consumers are seeking integrated and convenient health and wellness solutions, especially those that are delivered quickly to their door. 

Adcock says the acquisition will allow the e-commerce supply chain to meet consumers’ expectations. 

“We will allow customers to access all the things that made Jenny Craig successful – the food, the structure, the program, the coaching – while providing access to our broader portfolio of health & wellness solutions to empower customers to live happier, healthier lives,” Adcock said.

“Over the last 40 years, Jenny Craig has been committed to helping people lose weight and live healthier lives, and this acquisition not only reaffirms, but strengthens that commitment,” he added. “The Wellful platform is comprised of brands that help consumers achieve clinically validated outcomes. Simply put, consumers come to us to achieve their goals and they expect results. We couldn’t be more excited to bring that same experience to past and future Jenny Craig customers.”

Jenny Craig’s website currently features a landing page announcing the news that the beloved weight loss company would be coming to homes this fall via delivery. 

If comments on social media are any indication, former Jenny Craig followers appear excited over the news of the upcoming fall return.

“I will definitely be into this,” wrote one poster on Facebook. “I love the food and delivery is the way to go for me. I hope it’s early fall and not closer to winter. I would sign up next week if I could.”

Jenny Craig’s transition to e-commerce signals a larger trend others have recently followed, with wellness going digital and, at times, injectable.

Earlier this year, WeightWatchers announced the acquisition of Sequence, a telehealth provider that gives clients access to diabetes and weight loss medications such as Ozempic. The deal, valued at $132 million, is the first of its kind for WeightWatchers and one that its CEO, Sima Sistani, called a natural next step, especially in light of the advancements in chronic weight management medications. It’s also a lucrative move, as industry experts suggest that the weight loss drug market is expected to hit $100 billion by 2030. 

While many WeightWatchers members were pleased with the additional offering, other devotees were mixed on the new pivot, especially as the wellness company said it would cut back in-person meetings.

While Jenny Craig is expected to return this fall, the DTC meal model can prove challenging, as Freshly, a Nestlé-acquired meal delivery service, discovered.

Freshly closed its operations in January after being acquired by Nestlé in 2020 in a $1.5 billion deal. At one point, the meal delivery company that focused on limiting sugar and processed ingredients was shipping over a million meals each week.

Nestlé CEO Mark Schneider acknowledged the decline of Freshly in an investor seminar late last year, indicating that it was a deal that didn’t fully meet Nestlé’s objectives. 

The post Jenny Craig Returns as Digital-Only Service After Acquisition by Wellful appeared first on Athletech News.

America may slim down as shares of WeightWatchers expand.

WeightWatchers’ stock is surging following the completion of its acquisition of Sequence, a move which signals the weight loss company’s shift to adopting prescription drugs.

WW International, formerly known as WeightWatchers International, was trading at $7.35 per share when the market closed Thursday, up 79% from $4.11 on Monday. One Goldman Sachs analyst significantly upgraded his rating on the WeightWatchers stock, raising his target to $13 from $3.80. 

The weight loss company’s acquisition of Sequence is valued at $132 million. Sequence is a telehealth provider that gives users access to diabetes and weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, an injectable used to fight obesity.

The deal allows WeightWatchers members to receive access to drugs that fight obesity alongside a behavior-change program. Members may be prescribed Ozempic and other weight loss drugs that have received significant buzz in recent months. 

The Sequence acquisition is the first of its kind for WeightWatchers, a company founded on the principle that simply writing a script for weight loss medication isn’t the entire solution to addressing obesity. WeightWatchers has been clear that Ozempic and other weight loss drugs can’t replace healthy eating, but can help overall health goals.

It’s a transition that WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani says is a natural next step for the household name in weight loss, especially given the advancements in chronic weight management medications. 

“WeightWatchers is at a pivotal point where we can build new capabilities that expand our market, reinforced by our foundational strengths,”Sistani said of the Sequence deal. “Our goal is to provide sustainable, science-backed solutions to all weight health pathways, whether medications are part of an individual’s journey or not.”

Unlike those in Hollywood, WeightWatchers consumers must meet certain criteria, including a specific BMI and medical requirements, to receive a prescription. Anyone over 18 is eligible for Sequence and has the opportunity to meet with a clinician, but there is no guarantee medication will be prescribed. 

That said, there’s a good chance many will be prescribed the weight loss medication, as the CDC has warned that obesity is a “common, serious, and costly disease” and has increased in recent years. The CDC estimated the annual medical cost of obesity was nearly $173 billion in 2019, and medical expenses for adults with obesity are $1,861 higher than medical costs for people with a healthy weight.

WeightWatchers says that by entering the medication management space and incorporating weight loss drugs that address the biological components of obesity, members will have a better chance of long-term weight management and health success.

While some devoted WeightWatchers members reported mixed feelings, especially as the wellness company announced it would cut back on its in-person meetings, others seem to welcome the idea of the brand offering weight loss drugs, according to posts on WeightWatchers’ social media pages. 

The FDA has approved six medications for weight loss management, specifically for those with a BMI greater than 30 (obesity range) and for those with a BMI greater than 27 who also have a qualifying health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The medications target appetite, suppressing the feeling of hunger, and evidence has shown that this new class of weight loss drugs is very effective when compared to past medications.

While the weight loss drugs aren’t intended for cosmetic reasons, an Ozempic frenzy has occurred in recent months. Once celebrities and influencers took to various social media platforms to share the success of the medication, what was once viewed as a drug reserved for diabetics became a household product. 

The post WeightWatchers’ Stock Surges After Obesity Drug Deal appeared first on Athletech News.

Albertsons Companies, Inc. is moving into the digital health and wellness realm with the launch of Sincerely Health, a digital platform that is designed to encourage and reward consumers on their health journey so they can make informed choices.

The platform was created in partnership with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and technology companies.

Albertsons, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S., says its new, backed-by-science platform is now accessible on 16 of its grocery apps and websites, including Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s, Jewel-Osco, Acme, and Tom Thumb.

The retailer confirmed that its new platform will evolve in response to customer feedback.

“We are introducing Sincerely Health with a singular intention to improve lives,” said Omer Gajial, Chief Digital Officer and EVP Health at Albertsons. “As a grocery and pharmacy retailer committed to the health and wellness of our communities, we are empowering customers to have a connected and personalized view of their health across food, nutrition, activity, mental well-being and pharmacy services, enabling them to make more informed choices.”

The Sincerely Health app will first present users with a brief questionnaire that will provide a health score based on seven dimensions of well-being, such as age, gender, nutrition, lifestyle choices, and mental health. Users can link activity trackers and wearables such as Apple Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit to the platform and log their vitals and medication.

An online pharmacy is also available on the Sincerely Health platform, with prescription management tools, vaccine scheduling, and telehealth services that connect users with general practitioners.

Customers who sign up for Sincerely Health through their grocery app will receive a coupon for up to $25 off an upcoming purchase, redeemable at any store. 

Alongside the rollout of the Sincerely Health platform, the retailer also announced the launch of the ‘Sincerely, Food’ marketing campaign, which celebrates the joys of food and community. According to Jennifer Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, the campaign’s goal is to provide a personalized and engaging customer experience.

Consumers can expect similar moves from other retail giants, as One Medical and Amazon recently partnered to provide on-demand virtual care services through a membership program.

CVS Health has also reached an agreement to acquire Oak Street Health, which provides primary care. By lowering care costs and improving outcomes, the company and CVS Health hope to improve the long-term health of those in underserved communities.

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As you read this, are you reading it from your mobile device? If you glance at your wrist, are you sporting a wearable device? 

Technology and mobile apps have permeated all aspects of our lives, whether for work, education, or entertainment. Tech has undoubtedly significantly impacted how we approach health and well-being, but who plans to use mobile apps for health and fitness purposes this year (and who doesn’t) may surprise you.

One thing is certain: many consumers are connecting apps to their health and wellness goals. And why not? It’s a device that most view as an appendage, accompanying consumers wherever they go – whether it’s to the supermarket or the gym. 

New research from Airship, a mobile app experience company, has revealed that 8 in 10 people plan to use apps this year to boost their health and well-being. 

The survey, conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of Airship, took place in January 2023 and included insight with a global approach, reaching 4,000 consumers in the U.S., U.K., and France. Participants were 18 and over.

Here are some key highlights from the survey: 

Using a mobile app to connect with friends & family is nearly as important as working out

Wearable tech was named the number one fitness trend for this year, according to ACSM, and 81% of consumers plan to use apps or wearable technology to improve their health and well-being this year. 

The top three ways they’ll do that, the study finds, is through:

• Connecting with friends and family: 27% 
• Working out 26%
• Improving sleep – 17% 

Another finding is that Americans intend to use apps for nutrition and diet rather than improving sleep, whereas participants in the United Kingdom and France are more concerned with improving sleep first and diet second.

Baby Boomers are lagging in terms of app use, but they still make up a sizable portion 

Airship found that younger generations are more open to using apps for health and wellness, with Gen Z showing the highest interest at 94%. That should come as little surprise, as should millennials coming in at 90% and Gen X hitting 82%.

While only 65% of baby boomers intend to use health and wellness apps, they still account for a sizable portion of the population.

And there is still opportunity for seniors, considering SilverSneakers, an exercise program that caters to more mature fitness enthusiasts, will come equipped with Apple Fitness+ offerings this year – free of charge.

Americans have warmed up to using apps for healthcare appointments 

Apps are increasingly being used in healthcare, Airship found. Here is a breakdown of who plans to use apps for virtual doctor visits this year:

Americans – 15%

France – 10%

U.K. – 7%

Those in the U.S. are more likely to use mobile apps for telehealth, a stat that Airships says could reflect the strained healthcare system.

Americans also embraced virtual telehealth visits during the pandemic. What may have seemed as an impersonal and strange concept was welcomed by many who wanted to check in with their physician but perhaps didn’t want to go into the office during the pandemic.

Also, given the number of telehealth companies that have emerged in the mental health space, consumers are likely to continue to use an app for health appointments.

Biometrics: The wave of the future…but will it catch on with seniors?

With biometric tracking becoming increasingly accessible for the average consumer, Airship reports that only 10% of Americans plan to use apps for biometrics and heart monitoring.

Only 7% of boomers plan to use apps for such tracking. But, as Airship points out, since February is American Heart Month, the findings show the opportunity for increased education among older adults that statistically face a higher risk of heart disease.

On the other end of the spectrum, 13% of health-conscious millennials report they will use apps for biometrics in 2023.

Consider Levels, the first biosensor system to provide feedback on nutrition & lifestyle. The company recently announced a $38 million Series A funding round and has a $300 million valuation. Levels, a software company, is working towards solving what it calls a metabolic health crisis. 

With many people looking to connect their apps to their health this year, we may see a change in an alarming statistic: less than 7% of adults in the U.S. have good cardiometabolic health.

Thomas Butta, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer of Airship, remarked that life improves with better mobile app experiences, and for most people, it can apply to their health and well-being.

“Brands that earn a place in customers’ regular regimes can build enduring loyalty based on mutual respect and value,” he added.

Featured Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

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